GERANIUMS 
Our pamphlet entitled “OUR GERANIUMS” 
has been in such demand that we are incorporating 
it as part of this catalog: 
“The ordinary Geraniums have shown such an 
increase in popularity in recent years, and the 
information about them has been of such meager 
character that we have felt a need for information 
on this increasingly popular subject. We are re¬ 
cognized as one of the largest growers of these 
garden beauties on the Pacific Coast, and take 
great pleasure in submitting the following data for 
your enjoyment and enlightenment. 
The original habitat of the Zonal Geranium 
was in South Africa. The climatic conditions of 
their native habitat are somewhat similar both in 
rainfall and sunshine to that experienced in Ber¬ 
keley and other northern California localities. 
There is no other plant that requires less main¬ 
tenance care, less fertilizer and less water than the 
Geranium. There is absolutely no other plant 
which will glorify your garden with beautiful flow¬ 
ers, ranging in color from the purest white to the 
deepest purple shades for a longer period of conti¬ 
nued bloom than the Geranium. In San Francisco 
we know of instances where the old favorite, Paul 
Crampel, has been growing for upwards of twen¬ 
ty years. With one pruning a year to remove the 
old dead wood and hard growths, it has always 
given prolifically of its great scarlet heads of flow¬ 
ers. Never has it been affected by the heavy frosts 
which periodically touch the vicinity. 
To enjoy the full benefit of these glories of 
the gardens, make it a point to obtain sturdy, 
stocky plants which do not have too long a space 
between the leaf joints. Next, see that the soil 
in which they are to be planted has been well 
dug or tilled, and that a good layer of steam bone 
meal is worked thoroughly in during the digging 
process. Prepared fertilizers with a heavy nitro¬ 
gen content and organic fertilizers such as cow 
manure, etc., are best dispensed with. In very sandy 
or gravelly soil, however, it is sometimes good 
practice to incorporate some pulverized Swedish 
Peat to insure sufficient humus during the hot dry 
weather. Planting in shade will give you leggy 
plants. 
When planting out, the new plants should be 
placed half an inch deeper in the soil than they 
were in their original container. See that the root 
ball is not broken during the process of transplant¬ 
ing. Because of this damage, it is best to obtain 
plants grown in pots rather than tin cans. Work 
the soil thoroughly around the previous root ball 
and then apply water freely so that the surround¬ 
ing soil is flooded. 
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